Motorized and non-motorized interactive character

ABSTRACT

An illustrative interactive character is provided having a two section body with a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism. The character may have the capability to move between a variety of positions. Four appendages may be rotatably attached to the two section body with one or more wheels in communication with a lower portion of the appendages. The character may be non-motorized or motorized. A power source may be in communication with a pivot motor, a drive motor and an integrated circuit. At least one sensor may be in communication with the integrated circuit to activate preprogrammed content and software instructions stored therein. A gear train may be configured to transfer power from the drive motor to one of the at least one wheels. The pivot motor may rotate the pivot mechanism to direct character movements and animations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The illustrative embodiments relate to an interactive character with four appendages, a two-section body, a pivot mechanism and the ability to move and execute movements which may be directed by electronic control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interactive toy vehicles and characters have long been commonly used by children and adults for a variety of entertainment activities. Examples of interactive vehicles and characters include cars, trucks, aircraft, watercraft, and animals. A continuing need exists for new performance features, more realistic movements and entertaining content to add play value to interactive characters. Numerous other advantages and features of the invention become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and embodiments thereof and from the accompanying claims and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one or more illustrative embodiments there may be provided a motorized interactive character having a two section body which may include a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism about a pivot axis. Four appendages may each have an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with a wheelbase rotatably attached thereto. Four wheels may be rotatably attached to each respective wheelbase where at least one of the wheels may be a drive wheel. The character may have a power source which may be in communication with a pivot motor, a drive motor and an integrated circuit. At least one sensor may be in communication with the integrated circuit and the pivot motor may be configured to rotate the pivot mechanism. A gear train may be positioned within one of the appendages and configured to transfer power from the drive motor to the drive wheel. The character may also include a standing position where the appendages are at or near a perpendicular relationship to a surface. The character may also include a lowered position where the appendages may rotate outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position. The integrated circuit may have one or more sets of software instructions including a set of transition software instructions. The at least one sensor may send a signal to the integrated circuit when triggered to initiate the set of transition software instructions configured to (i) activate the drive motor at a transition speed in a first direction such that the appendages rotate outward directing the character to lower from the standing position to the lowered position; and (ii) activate the drive motor at the transition speed in a second direction such that the appendages rotate inward directing the character to raise from the lowered position to the standing position. A set of movement software instructions may be configured to direct the drive motor to power at a movement speed such that the drive wheel directs the character to move without transitioning between positions. The appendages may further include a pivot point below the upper portion of the appendage. The sensors may include a capability to detect audio and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions in accordance thereto. The sensors may include a capability to detect an obstacle and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions to direct the character to avoid the obstacle. The character may include a receiver in communication with the integrated circuit and a controller having a transmitter with a capability to transmit command signals to the receiver such that the integrated circuit may direct the drive motor and pivot motor to operate in response to the command signals.

In another illustrative embodiment there may be provided a motorized interactive character having a two section body including a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism. Four appendages may each have an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto. The character may include a power source in communication with a pivot motor, a drive motor and an integrated circuit. At least one sensor may be in communication with the integrated circuit. The pivot motor may be configured to rotate the pivot mechanism. A gear train may be configured to transfer power from the drive motor to one of the at least one wheels. Upon triggering of the at least one sensor, the integrated circuit may be configured to activate the pivot motor and drive motor in accordance with a first set of software instructions to animate the character. The character may also include a standing position where the appendages being at or near perpendicular relative to a surface and may include a lowered position where the appendages rotated outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position. A second set of software instructions may be configured to direct the drive motor to power at a first speed in a first direction such that the at least one wheel directs the appendages to rotate outward which may direct the character to lower from the standing position to the lowered position. A third set of software instructions may be configured to direct the drive motor to power at the first speed in a second direction such that the at least one wheel directs the appendages to rotate inward which may direct the character rise from the lowered position to the standing position. A fourth set of software instructions may be configured to direct the drive motor to power at a second speed such that the at least one wheel directs the character to move without transitioning between positions. The appendages may include a pivot point below the upper portion of the appendage. One or more of the sensors may include a capability to detect audio and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions in accordance thereto. One of the one or more sensors may include a capability to detect an obstacle and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions to direct the character to avoid the obstacle. The character may also include a receiver in communication with the integrated circuit and a controller having a transmitter with a capability to transmit command signals to the receiver such that the integrated circuit may direct the drive motor and pivot motor to operate in response to the command signals.

In yet another illustrative embodiment there may be provided a two section body including a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism. Four appendages may each have an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with a wheelbase rotatably attached thereto. Each wheelbase may include at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto. At least one sensor may be in communication with the integrated circuit. The character may include a standing position where the appendages being at or near perpendicular relative to a surface and a lowered position where the appendages have rotated outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position. The integrated circuit may have one or more sets of software instructions to initiate a character response where the at least one sensor may send a signal to the integrated circuit when triggered to activate the set of software instructions to output one or more character responses. The character responses may include preprogrammed audio content, one or more lights in communication with the integrated circuit, preprogrammed lighting content to output via the one or more lights, and preprogrammed entertainment content. The sensors may be an image capturing sensor, a proximity sensor, and a microphone. The character may further include a pivot motor configured to rotate the pivot mechanism and in communication with a power source and the integrated circuit. The one or more wheels may be forward roll only wheels such that rotation of the pivot mechanism moves the figure forward as the two section body rotates about the pivot mechanism.

Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative character;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the character from FIG. 1 with a portion of an outer housing removed to show internal components;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of an illustrative character;

FIG. 3 b is a perspective view of an illustrative character;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the character from FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the character from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the character from FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary standing position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary lowered position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary bowing position;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an illustrative character showing a pivot point at a mid-region of an exemplary appendage;

FIG. 11 a is a top view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary standing position with an outer housing removed to show internal components;

FIG. 11 b is FIG. 11 a with an exemplary first section rotated to the left;

FIG. 11 c is FIG. 11 a with an exemplary first section rotated to the right;

FIG. 12 a is a top view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary lowered position with an outer housing removed to show internal components and an exemplary pivot mechanism rotated to the left;

FIG. 12 b is a top view of the character from FIG. 1 in an exemplary lowered position with an outer housing removed to show internal components and an exemplary pivot mechanism rotated to the right;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an illustrative character; and

FIG. 14 is another block diagram of an illustrative character.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention, claims or the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown an illustrative interactive motorized character 10 which may include an exemplary head 12 and an exemplary two section body with a first section 15 and a second section 20. The character 10 may be in the form of an animal, such as a dog or pony, or numerous other four legged animals and characters. An exemplary pivot mechanism 25 may rotatably attach the first section 15 and second section 20. The pivot mechanism 25 may include a pivot motor 26 to direct rotation of the first section 15 and second section 20 about a pivot axis 27. Optionally the pivot mechanism may also rotate freely. Four appendages 30 may be rotatably attached to the character 10 at an upper portion of each appendage and extend downward toward a surface. Each appendage 30 may include a lower portion with at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto. Each appendage 30 may also include at least one exemplary pivot point. FIG. 1 shows one illustrative pivot point at an axis 41 near the lower portion of the appendages 30. Here, the pivot point at axis 41 may facilitate a pivotal relationship between exemplary wheel bases 45 and the appendages 30. A pivot point may also be positioned at a mid-region of the appendages. In this exemplary embodiment, four wheels 35 are rotatably attached to each wheel base 45, however other exemplary embodiments may utilize one or more wheels. FIG. 3 a shows an illustrative embodiment where one wheel is positioned at the base of each appendage 30. FIG. 3 b shows an illustrative embodiment where the character 10 is in the form of a pony.

The character 10 may also include a motorized capability to direct movement which may include a power source 50, a drive motor 55 and a gear train 60 in communication with the motor 55 and at least one of the wheels 35. In one exemplary embodiment, the gear train 60 may be housed within one of the appendages 30 and in communication with two of the wheels 35 as shown in FIG. 2. The gear train 60 may transfer power from the drive motor 55 to at least one of the wheels 35 to drive movement of the character 10 forward and backward as directed. Further, powering one of the wheels 35 may direct the appendages 30 to rotate outward/inward to lower/raise the character 10 between a standing position and a lowered position (further described below). Optionally, a wheel or wheels may also have forward roll only capability such that the character 10 may move forward when the pivot mechanism 25 rotates the two section body from side to side.

The character 10 may be controlled utilizing a variety of control systems including radio or remote control utilizing a transmitter/receiver pair and/or on-character switches and/or sensors utilizing interactive preprogrammed content and software instructions. The control system may interact with the components of the character 10 to provide a variety of movements and actions. One or more sensors 70 may be positioned within and/or throughout the character 10 to trigger movement and animation of the character 10 in positions including but not limited to the head, underside, tail, eyes and/or ears. Examples of sensors include but are not limited to sensors that may detect sound, light, obstacles and/or react to touch, which then may send a signal to the control system to activate the drive motor 55 and/or pivot motor 26 in accordance with the software instructions to animate the character 10.

One example of a movement includes the appendages 30 rotating outward such that the character 10 lowers from an exemplary standing position shown in FIG. 7 to an exemplary lowered position as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary bowing position. FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment where an additional pivot 72 is included which may provide for additional character 10 animations. The character 10 may move in the standing position, the lowered position, and positions there between. The pivot mechanism 25 may direct steering in accordance with rotation thereof as the character 10 moves forward and backward in the various exemplary positions. FIGS. 11 a-11 c show exemplary rotations of the pivot mechanism 25 when the character is in the standing position. FIGS. 12 a-12 b show exemplary rotations of the pivot mechanism 25 when the character is in the lowered position. Additional movements may be facilitated by varying a distribution of power to the motors. For example, when in the lowered position, the drive motor 55 may be powered at a first speed such that the character 10 may move in the lowered position. When in the lowered position and the drive motor 55 is powered at a second speed, greater than the first speed, the character 10 may raise from the lowered position to the standing position.

Referring now to FIG. 13, there is shown a block diagram for an illustrative embodiment of the character 10 which may utilize one or more sensors 70 to trigger preprogrammed content and/or software instructions. Triggering one of the one or more sensors 70 may direct a corresponding signal to an integrated circuit (“IC”) 75. The IC 75 then may send a control signal to the drive motor 55 and/or the pivot motor 26 to activate the wheel(s) 35 and/or the pivot mechanism 25 in accordance with the preprogrammed content and/or software instructions stored in the IC 75. Preprogrammed content and software instructions may include a variety of character responses and movement sequences in varied character 10 positions. The content and instructions may also direct effects such as audio and light.

Referring now to FIG. 14, there is shown another block diagram for an illustrative embodiment of the character 10 which may utilize a controller 80 to direct character 10 movements. Here, when one of a plurality of operational controls 85 on the controller 80 is triggered in response to a user's input, a corresponding signal may be sent to a receiver 90 via a transmitter 95. The receiver 90 may then send the signal to an IC 75. An IC 75 may access the signal(s) in accordance to the user's input, and then generate a control signal to direct the drive motor 55 and/or pivot motor 26 to activate. As such, the user's input may direct a variety of character 10 movements. Further, the one or more sensors 70 may trigger preprogrammed content and/or software instructions as described above. Additional components may include a port 105 to receive external data, such as audio data for output from a speaker 110.

From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or inferred. 

We claim:
 1. A motorized interactive character comprising: a two section body including a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism about a pivot axis; four appendages each having an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with a wheelbase rotatably attached thereto; each wheelbase including four wheels rotatably attached thereto, at least one of the wheels further defined as a drive wheel; a power source in communication with a pivot motor, a drive motor and an integrated circuit; at least one sensor in communication with the integrated circuit; the pivot motor configured to rotate the pivot mechanism; a gear train positioned within one of the appendages and configured to transfer power from the drive motor to the drive wheel; a standing position defined by the appendages being at or near perpendicular relative to a surface; a lowered position defined by the appendages rotated outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position; and the integrated circuit having one or more sets of software instructions including a set of transition software instructions; wherein the at least one sensor sends a signal to the integrated circuit when triggered to initiate the set of transition software instructions configured to: (i) activate the drive motor at a transition speed in a first direction such that the appendages rotate outward directing the character to lower from the standing position to the lowered position; and (ii) activate the drive motor at the transition speed in a second direction such that the appendages rotate inward directing the character to raise from the lowered position to the standing position.
 2. The character of claim 1 wherein a set of movement software instructions is configured to direct the drive motor to power at a movement speed such that the drive wheel directs the character to move without transitioning between positions.
 3. The character of claim 2 wherein the appendages further include a pivot point below the upper portion of the appendage.
 4. The character of claim 3 wherein one of the one or more sensors includes a capability to detect audio and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions in accordance thereto.
 5. The character of claim 4 wherein one of the one or more sensors includes a capability to detect an obstacle and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions to direct the character to avoid the obstacle.
 6. The character of claim 5, further comprising: a receiver in communication with the integrated circuit; and a controller having a transmitter with a capability to transmit command signals to the receiver such that the integrated circuit may direct the drive motor and pivot motor to operate in response to the command signals.
 7. A motorized interactive character comprising: a two section body including a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism; four appendages each having an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto; a power source in communication with a pivot motor, a drive motor and an integrated circuit; at least one sensor in communication with the integrated circuit; the pivot motor configured to rotate the pivot mechanism; and a gear train configured to transfer power from the drive motor to one of the at least one wheels; wherein upon triggering of the at least one sensor, the integrated circuit is configured to activate the pivot motor and drive motor in accordance with a first set of software instructions to animate the character.
 8. The character of claim 7 further comprising: a standing position defined by the appendages being at or near perpendicular relative to a surface; and a lowered position defined by the appendages rotated outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position; wherein a second set of software instructions is configured to direct the drive motor to power at a first speed in a first direction such that the at least one wheel directs the appendages to rotate outward such that the character lowers from the standing position to the lowered position.
 9. The character of claim 8 wherein a third set of software instructions is configured to direct the drive motor to power in the first speed in a second direction such that the at least one wheel directs the appendages to rotate inward such that the character raises from the lowered position to the standing position.
 10. The character of claim 9 wherein a fourth set of software instructions is configured to direct the drive motor to power at a second speed such that the at least one wheel directs the character to move without transitioning between positions.
 11. The character of claim 10 wherein the appendages further include a pivot point below the upper portion of the appendage.
 12. The character of claim 11 wherein one of the one or more sensors includes a capability to detect audio and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions in accordance thereto.
 13. The character of claim 12 wherein one of the one or more sensors includes a capability to detect an obstacle and send a signal to the integrated circuit to activate software instructions to direct the character to avoid the obstacle.
 14. The character of claim 13, further comprising: a receiver in communication with the integrated circuit; and a controller having a transmitter with a capability to transmit command signals to the receiver such that the integrated circuit may direct the drive motor and pivot motor to operate in response to the command signals.
 15. An articulated electronic interactive character comprising: a two section body including a first section and a second section rotatably attached at a pivot mechanism; four appendages each having an upper portion rotatably attached to the two section body and a lower portion with a wheelbase rotatably attached thereto; each wheelbase including at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto; at least one sensor in communication with the integrated circuit; a standing position defined by the appendages being at or near perpendicular relative to a surface; a lowered position defined by the appendages rotated outward such that an underside of the character is closer to the surface than in the standing position; and the integrated circuit having one or more sets of software instructions to initiate a character response; wherein the at least one sensor sends a signal to the integrated circuit when triggered to activate the set of software instructions to output one or more character responses.
 16. The character of claim 15, wherein one of the character responses includes preprogrammed audio content.
 17. The character of claim 15 further comprising: one or more lights in communication with the integrated circuit; wherein one of the character responses includes preprogrammed lighting content to output via the one or more lights.
 18. The character of claim 15, wherein one of the character responses includes preprogrammed entertainment content.
 19. The character of claim 15, wherein one of the at least one sensors is an image capturing sensor.
 20. The character of claim 15, wherein one of the at least one sensors is a proximity sensor.
 21. The character of claim 15, wherein one of the at least one sensors is a microphone.
 22. The character of claim 15, further comprising: a pivot motor configured to rotate the pivot mechanism and in communication with a power source and the integrated circuit; the one or more wheels further defined as forward roll only wheels such that rotation of the pivot mechanism moves the figure forward as the two section body rotates about the pivot mechanism. 